Manuka Honey Benefits

The benefits of medicinal honey have been known for over 4,000 years after the Egyptians started to apply honey on wounds. In today's world with growing concern over antibiotic resistant staph and bacteria, scientists are taking another look at honey and its extraordinary qualities, being specifically interested in Manuka Honey Benefits.

It is common knowledge that all honey contains a natural occurring enzyme which produces hydrogen peroxide, a known antiseptic with proven antibacterial properties.

However, hydrogen peroxide loses most of its healing power when in contact with body fluids or wound fluids. In addition all healing qualities of common honey are lost in contact with heat or direct light.

What is Manuka Honey?

Manuka Honey is produced by bees that collect nectar from the Manuka Bush or Tea Tree (also known as Leptospermum Scoparium) indigenous only to New Zealand.

Bees gather the nectar from the flowers of Manuka Tree.
In the hive, they add an enzyme called glucose oxidase to the nectar in order to preserve the honey.
When Manuka Honey comes into contact with body fluids, the glucose oxidase enzyme slowly releases the antibacterial hydrogen peroxide.

The levels of hydrogen peroxide released are not high enough to damage tissue but sufficient enough to affect bacteria.

Studies on the Manuka Honey benefits have shown that Manuka Honey, a special type of mono-floral honey contains an ingredient with powerful antibacterial, anti microbial, antiviral, antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and anti fungal properties. This ingredient was originally named UMF®.

What is UMF® ?

One of the first scientists to study the benefits of Manuka Honey is Associate Professor in Biochemistry, Peter Molan from the University of Waikato in Hamilton, New Zealand.

He began to research the Manuka Honey benefits since 1981 when he discovered that some samples of Manuka Honey contain a non-peroxide component.

WARNING: DO NOT CONFUSE ACTIVE MANUKA HONEY UMF 20+ OR MGO 400+ WITH ACTIVE MANUKA HONEY 20+. IF THE HONEY IS NOT LABELED WITH UMF OR MGO, YOU ARE BUYING TABLE HONEY.

Tests conducted proved that after adding a catalase to the samples of Manuka Honey in order to remove the hydrogen peroxide, some samples still had a significant antibacterial activity. Dr. Peter Molan named this non-peroxide element UMF®, Unique Manuka Factor.

He proved that not all Manuka Honey has UMF® and that not all levels of UMF® have antibacterial, antiviral or antiseptic benefits.

The most powerful antibacterial levels start at a UMF® level of 16+ up to 24+. The higher the UMF® level, the higher the health benefits of Manuka Honey.

Dr. Molan's researches proved some of Manuka Honey benefits as the most powerful bacteria killer even when diluted 10 times. He recommends Manuka Honey especially for people with weak immune systems.

Laboratory tests found the UMF® property to be effective against a wide variety of bacteria including Helicobacter Pylori( known to cause most stomach ulcers), Staphylococcus Aureus( Staph), Escherichia Coli ( the most common cause of MRSA and other infected wounds) and Streptococcus Pyogenes( which causes sore throat) ...

UMF® or MGO™ ?

"Scientists uncover key to Manuka Honey's benefits"

This is the title of an article in The New Zealand Herald on July 3rd 2007, bringing the news that the UMF ingredient studied by scientists for over 15 years was identified as Methylglyoxal (MGO™) by a team a researchers from Dresden, Germany, led by Professor Dr. Thomas Henle, head of the Institute of Food Chemistry at the Technical University of Dresden. Professor Henle refers to the results of the study as it " unambiguously demonstrates for the first time that Methylglyoxal is directly responsible for the antibacterial activity of Manuka honey."He also notes that the high amounts of Methylglyoxal found in Manuka honey were not found in any other food.

Methylglyoxal occurs in all types of honey, however the concentration level is normally between 1 and 10 mg/kg. What makes Manuka honey extremely potent is the level of Methylglyoxal of between 100 and 1000mg/kg.

The higher the concentration of Methylglyoxal the stronger the antibacterial quality of Manuka honeys and the higher the Manuka Honey benefits are. A Methylglyoxal level of 400 mg/kg and higher in the Manuka honey gives it the power to destroy a very large number of destructive microorganisms, viruses and bacteria.

Here are some of the best results of Methylglyoxal mg/kg level found in other foods:

Yogurt

less than 2mg/kg

Cheese

4-11 mg/kg

Wine

less than 2 mg/kg

Coffee

23-47 mg/kg

Other honeys

0-10 mg/kg

Manuka Honey, a Superior Food

The results of the Dresden scientific studies show that the MGO™ Manuka Honey is a superior food and it can be regarded as a medical food. The high levels of Methylglyoxal found in MGO™ Manuka Honey are used in a wide range of applications from internal uses such as stomach ulcers and mouth diseases to external uses that treat skin conditions and wound infections.

Here are some of the affections that MGO™Manuka Honey has been known to have a great impact on:

NEW ZEALAND Manuka Tree(Tea Tree)

Found only in New Zealand, MGO™ Manuka Honey is a 100% natural, raw, un pasteurized food with proven results in antibacterial, antiseptic and antiviral activity due to the active ingredient Dietary Methylglyoxal.

The results of the scientific studies conducted in Dresden, Germany are opening the avenues for other research teams to implement the health benefits of Manuka Honey in medical tests meant to prevent and cure other diseases.

Every batch of Manuka Honey is different and all batches are tested at The Production Facilities to determine the level of UMF® of MGO™ in each batch.

New Zealand Manuka Tree in Bloom

WARNING:

Not all Manuka Honey contains the active ingredient Methylglyoxal.
Manuka Honey with levels of activity less that UMF 16+ ,MGO 250+ does not have powerfull antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic benefits.

When seeking the health benefits of Manuka Honey, one must pay great attention at the variety of products available on the Market.
Rule of thumb: a Manuka Honey label must contain the words active umf(mgo) manuka honey followed by a number. If the indication is only active, you are not purchasing the Manuka Honey with significant amounts of Methylglyoxal beneficial to naturally healing several affections.

Disclaimer:
The information on this website is not intended to replace medical advise. We do not recommend people to stop taking their prescribed medications or to stop visiting their physician.
Our intention is to increase awareness about the potential healing qualities of the Active Manuka Honey and to make it available to people who are interested in homeopathic ways to regard diseases and who wish to experience the benefits of a product that received the attention of many international researchers.
Please seek medical advise if symptoms persist.